At the same time, Stella thought the conversation between the two men was fascinating and amusing,
so she couldn’t help but laugh. There really was nothing more to it.
But when the man in front of her caught sight of her joyous chuckles, he lost a little self control and just
stared at her. Even Roger, who was beside him, noticed it.
“Professor Hall,” he said with a frown. “Why are you staring at my sister?”
The man came back to his senses, then looked at Stella apologetically.
“I’m sorry,” he told her.
Stella’s smile vanished. She glared at her brother before snapping, “Don’t be rude!”
Stella then sat straight and turned to the man in front of her.
“Thank you for watching out for us, Professor Hall,” she said. “Please, allow me to settle the bill for this
meal.”
She had planned to go for a walk with her brother, but they unexpectedly bumped into Roger’s college
professor. Roger had taken a few semesters off due to his illness, and it was Justin Hall that helped
catch up to the course, along with supporting him in other ways. Because of this, Stella had gotten to
know him quite well. He left a good impression on her. She never expected Roger to get as much
assistance and support as he did in high school. Still, surprisingly, Justin Hall had been very attentive
and helpful, asking her if Roger encountered problems in his studies or personal life. Naturally, this had
earned Justin Hall considerable respect from Stella. But that little incident just now made Stella feel a
little wary. She now suspected if Justin indeed had other intentions.
“No,” Justin refused with a smile, showing no sign of embarrassment. “I’m your brother’s professor!
How can I let my own student pay for my meal? I insist on paying.”
“But it’s just a simple meal,” Stella interrupted.
“No. I insist.”
With a natural and practiced motion, Justin put on a new pair of disposable gloves, peeled off a
shrimp’s shell, and placed it on Stella’s plate. “It’s still early,” he added. “Why don’t we go for a walk by
the river after eating?”
Stella glanced at her brother, and they exchanged glances.
“I’m sorry, Professor Hall…” she shook her head politely.
Justin seemed to understand something. He frowned a little before chuckling lightly.
“It seems that you’ve misunderstood something,” he stated.
Stella was dumbfounded.
“I was staring at you just now simply because I thought you looked really pretty in that brief moment,”
he explained. “But it was simply an appreciation of your beauty, nothing more. I have no other
intentions. I’m really sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I won’t do it again.”
Now that he put it that way, Stella was truly stumped and didn’t know what to say. Having noticed how
awkward things were, Justin tried to make things right. “I just remembered that I’ve got some work to
do,” he told them. “I’m afraid I must send you home after the meal.”
Justin had intended to take the two siblings to a nicer restaurant, but he knew them well enough to
know that they’d only agree to go with him if he took them to a more humble restaurant like this one. At
that moment, Roger suddenly put down his knife and fork and announced with a deflated voice, “I’m
full.”
Roger used to like Justin very much, but with that incident, it was apparent that he had taken a fancy to
his sister. He wasn’t sure how to feel about this, but it certainly did leave a bad taste in his mouth.
Now that Roger had said that, the meal naturally had to come to an end. Justin subsequently sent the
two siblings off back to their apartment building. After Roger and Stella had gone up to their rooms, he
stood downstairs for a while before getting into his car and driving off. None of them noticed the
expensive luxury car parked under the tree opposite the restaurant. It was still there even after Justin
left. A small scattering of cigarette butts lay on the ground near the car.
A confusing mixture of emotions had arisen in Weston’s heart. He leaned on the car door and stared at
the man who had walked Stella and Roger to their apartment building but did not go up with them. He
tugged at his collar, allowing himself to breathe more easily. When he saw that the lights in the room
upstairs were on, he tossed his cigarette away. He hopped into his car, picking up his phone
immediately once he got inside. “I need the background information of a man,” he ordered.
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